We just returned from a trip driving through some northern California redwoods, impressed by the stunning beauty and majestic grandeur of these old-growth survivors. As rays of light shine through the darkness, so too are movements and actions that bring hope that help us face our climate crisis. These are but a few that have come to my attention:
April 4, 2023, at 11 a.m. PDT - Richenda Fairhurst of Climate Cafe Multifaith will have a conversation with Dr. Rohany Nayan Fostering Friendships for People and Climate: Ramadan and Right Intention. "Dr. Nayan founded the Jariyah Foundation and invites us to hope together in the effort to build legacies with a positive and ongoing impact in local and global communities." Register here
April 4, 2023, at 5 p.m. PDT - Ashland Climate Collaborative is having a Ride For Safe Streets and the Climate. Meet at the Plaza and ride your bicycle to the Ashland City Council Chambers to show support for a safe bicycle network in Ashland, OR.
April 4, 2023, to May 2, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. PDT - Deeptime Network is hosting a 4-week course on Tuesday afternoons: Creating Ecozoic Practice with Margie Abbott, RSM, "This experiential course contributes to a growing understanding that all life is interconnected and part of an evolving universe. It’s an invitation to fall in love with Earth, enter more deeply into relationships, and ignite sparks of compassion that lead to action." These practices contribute to Goal Six of Laudato Si’ (Ecological Spirituality) which invites changing language and developing prayer and ritual to mirror the interconnectedness of everything and the Spirit of Love permeating all matter. Register here.
April 6-20, 2023 - Climate Reality Project is offering online video training Power Up Training: From Acts to Action, to leverage the IRA and Infrastructure Act.
"I really recommend this training!! The information is invaluable, and you get connected to the hub and others both locally and internationally who are doing this work." ~ Richenda Fairhurst
April 6, 2023, at 1 p.m. PDT. - Global Kinship, a project of Creation Spirituality, will present a Zoom webinar entitled Cosmogenesis and the Noosphere. This will be an interview by Jennifer Morgan of Brian Thomas Swimme, author of the 2022 book Cosmogenesis, Unveiling the Expanding Universe. Register here.
April 8, 2023, at 10 a.m. PDT -Southern Oregon Citizens' Climate Lobby meets at Pony Expresso in Ashland, OR. 175 Lithia Way, Ashland, OR 97520. The Speaker this month on the national call is Kajsa Hendrickson, the director of Future 500. To learn more and download the CCL April Action Sheet by clicking "Get the Action Sheet", click here,
April 10, 2023, at 7-8 p.m, PDT on Zoom- Oregon Interfaith Power & Light Advocacy Team is having a monthly gathering. Guest speaker, Chris Smith, from the Just Crossing Alliance will be sharing about the I-5 bridge replacement project over the Columbia River. Click here for the Zoom link. If you haven't already, please fill out this form to indicate the virtual and in-person advocacy opportunities you want to and are available to participate in this month.
April 10-16, 2023 - Food Waste Prevention Week is a nationwide event designed to raise awareness and engage with folks about solutions. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality is a Sponsor of this campaign. Flavia Franco of Southern Oregon Food Solutions is leading the Composting Action Team at Ashland Climate Collaborative.
April 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. PDT -The next UCC Creation Justice Webinar is entitled Getting Ready for Earth Sunday: Resources for Congregations." will bring the lens of justice to food, the most immediate and tangible way that we connect with the natural world around us. In this webinar, Karyn Bigelow will introduce the resource and talk about specific ways churches can deliver a powerful message and experience on Earth Sunday. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register here.
April 13, 2023, at 10 a.m. PDT - Divest Oregon will deliver a Stop the Money Pipeline (STMP) petition to the State Treasurer in Salem demanding that he vote PERS shares at banks and insurance companies in favor of resolutions to stop funding fossil fuel companies. Divest Oregon will be meeting at 10 a.m. at 3155 Ryan Drive, Salem (Denny’s) to walk over to the new Treasury building together. Contact Gary before April 12 via email or phone to get more info. Over 40,000 people have signed a petition to ask Treasurers around the country urging them to vote YES on climate and Indigenous rights resolutions at banks and insurance companies.
April 14 - 23, 2023 - Faith Climate Action Week is ten days in April during "Earth Month" when Interfaith Power and Light congregations focus on how we can all take action to protect our climate. This year's theme is Living the Golden Rule: Just Transition to a clean energy economy. Click here for a link to Oregon Ecumenical Ministries and Oregon Interfaith Power and Light.
April 17-28, 2023 - Oregon Interfaith Power & Light (OIPL) Earth Week Advocacy meetings will be joining an IN PERSON advocacy day with the Building Resilience coalition on April 20, 2023. The Community Resilience Hubs coalition lobby day on April 25 has both VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON OPTIONS. There are also opportunities to attend and/or speak up to the Ways & Means Committee through their "road show" at locations around the state (mostly in person; the Salem event will be virtual and in person)
April 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. PDT on Zoom - Climate Cafe MultiFaith will focus on Land Stewardship in Urban Community Settings and Beyond with guest Tiffany Jones. They will discuss "habitat-sustaining green design in urban landscapes, in unactivated city lots, community centers, and outside churches, temples, and other places of worship." Register here.
April 18, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PDT - Deloitte and Insider Events are presenting For a Better Future: Bridging Culture, Business, and Climate. "You’ll learn how the concepts of empowerment and circularity inspire climate action in the world of business and the larger culture. The speaker lineup will be a diverse set of cross-sector climate champions, such as climate justice advocates, circular fashion heroes, and businesses. Register here for the multi-session editorial conference to learn more about:
-Sustainable style and how circular fashion is changing the fashion industry.
-How businesses are partnering to impact the climate.
-The role of biodiversity in coming together for a greener tomorrow.
-How the sports sector is impacting the environment.
April 18-26, 2023 - Heart Mind Institute LLC in partnership with Neurodynamic Institute LLC will present the Expanded States of Consciousness World Summit. with an interesting lineup of 60 video presentations over 8 days. Psychedelics, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Plant Medicine, Breathwork, Meditation, Shamanism, and more…
Dr. Fleet Maull, Ph.D. is the Founder of Heart Mind Institute LLC, a Master Trainer, Author, Consultant, and Executive Coach, steeped in contemplative wisdom traditions, the psychology of self-actualization, and current neuroscience, Previous Global Resilience Summits were held in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Maull also has created a membership Heart Mind Community. All this might be a little far out for most folks, but the thought of an emerging global mind intrigues me.
April 19, 2023, at 10 a.m. PDT on Zoom - UMCJ Movement Café meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month and this April meeting will discuss innovative creation justice activities happening in the United Methodist Annual Conferences. Come to learn more about the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement and share your own stories. Recordings and notes from previous Cafés can be seen here. Register here.
April 20, 2023, at 4 p.m. PDT - Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth is hosting Earth Day Worship (live-streamed). The theme is Active for Earthcare! There will be meditation, song, and stories to honor the natural world and become Active for Earthcare – a call to engage in the face of the climate crisis. Register here.
April 21, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. PDT - Rogue Community College is celebrating Earth Day 2023 at the Riverside campus (HEC) in Medford and the Redwood Campus in Grants Pass
April 21, 2023, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. PDT - Earth Day Extravaganza at The Farm at SOU (next to ScienceWorks). There will be exhibitors, entertainment, an ecoquest adventure, educational mini-workshops, games, and more, all in celebration of the 52nd Earth Day. Sign up to volunteer.
April 22, 2023, at 8 a.m. PDT - Join the UCC's first Earth Day Summit featuring the Rev. Jim Antal and an array of uplifting panelists and presentations focused on the theme "What's Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope. During this two-and-a-half-hour event a panel of grassroots organizers will share their success stories.Sign-up today for this free event!
April 22, 2023, from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT - SOCAN's Sustaining Climate Activists Project hosts monthly gatherings with social time as well as circling up and checking in with each other. Their April meeting will be in-person at Blue Heron Park, 4385 Pacific Hwy, Phoenix. Masks optional. Facilitated by Ken Deveney and Liz Olson.
April 22, 2023, at 12 p.m. PDT on Zoom - Creation Spirituality Communities will host an Earth Day Labyrinth Walk. Mary Ann Wamhoff will lead us on a virtual labyrinth walk to apply Creation Spirituality to an ancient practice of moving meditation. No need to pre-register; Zoom Link here.
April 25, 2023, from 6-7:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN is having its monthly meeting in person at the Medford Public Library, 205 S. Central Ave, Medford, OR. Featured speakers will be members of the SOCAN Federal and State Project Team on the topic Salem 2023: What's up?
April 25, 2023 - Oregon Just Transition Alliance is gathering Oregonians from all over the state to meet in Salem with our lawmakers to urge them to create Community Resilience Hubs to protect our communities before, during, and after climate emergencies. Register here.
April 25-27, 2023 on Zoom - Ecumenical Advocacy Days is "an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists who worship, delve deeply into the pressing issues of the day, and lift our voices by speaking truth to power on Capitol Hill. The theme of this year’s virtual conference is "Swords into Plowshares: Achieving Enough for All & Pursuing Peace." Workshops will include several related to creation care and climate justice." Learn more here.
April 27, 2023, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. PDT - Citizens Climate Lobby Co-Leader Linda Tetreault will present a free talk on “Living and Working on the Front Line of Climate Change” at Gambrel Annex, 2082 East Main St., Ashland, OR.